Tag Archives: free-parking

Disabled (also known as ‘European’) Parking Cards can be used by disabled people within the 28 member states of the EU and are also recognised in the US and Canada. This means that when you travel abroad, you can bring your European Parking Card with you. However, it is important to remember that you must observe the motoring laws and restrictions on parking in other countries. The EU Commission has produced a publication, Parking card for people with disabilities in the European Union (pdf).

As outlined on the Disabled Parking Permit webpage (of Dublin’s City Council), holders of a valid Disabled Persons Parking Permit (Refered to as a Blue Badge in the UK) can park for free in the city centre in any of the on street bays (I wish I knew this before paying over eight euro’s to park for just two hours!).

Parking with a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit

If your vehicle displays a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit you have special permissions for parking in Dublin City. This includes:

You can park in a disabled person’s parking bay

These bays are extra-wide and are specially positioned to help you.

You can park in an ordinary parking space for free

You can park in any Pay & Display or Permit Parking space free of charge and you can stay there for an unlimited time.

40. The requirement to display a valid pay and display parking ticket or a valid pay and display parking tag or a resident’s parking permit or a visitor’s parking permit in a vehicle parked in any parking place or residential parking permit place to which these Bye-Laws relate shall not apply to the following:
(a) a vehicle being used in connection with the removal of an obstruction to traffic, the removal of a vehicle pursuant to section 97 of the 1961 Road Traffic Act as amended, the immobilisation and release of vehicles, the maintenance, improvement or reconstruction of a public road, the provision, alteration or repair of a main drain, pipe or apparatus for the supply of gas, oil, water or electricity or of a telephone line or the provision of a traffic sign,
(b) a fire brigade vehicle, an ambulance or a vehicle in which a valid disabled person’s permit is displayed and which is parked for the convenience of the person to whom that permit was granted if the permit is prominently
displayed on the vehicle when that vehicle is parked in a ticket parking place.